Liquor seller: Say no to groceries selling liquor

The head of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is urging lawmakers to quickly shoot down bills, currently making their way in the Florida Legislature, that would allow grocery stores to sell liquor.

Charles Bailes, ABC's chief executive officer, said if "access increases, underage consumption increases," and that's a probable option if either of two new bills legislature are passed and spirits are allowed to be sold "alongside milk and bread in supermarkets."

Bailes noted that Walmart is vocally supporting the two new proposals, sponsored by Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton; and Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, but not much has been heard from other Florida grocers or other big retailers.

Currently more than 400 supermarkets carry spirits, so long as they have an entrance separate from their main store, segregating the liquor from beer and wine which are sold inside the main stores.

Bailes said his main concern isn't increased competition from places like Walmart, Publix and Winn-Dixie but rather increased exposure to minors.

"I know how hard minors work to get alcohol," Bailes said in an interview with "Shanken News Daily", an industry publication focusing on spirits . "I also know how beer and wine is different than selling liquor. If liquor is on the grocery store shelf, the best systems at checkout won't prevent minors from getting it. If they don't buy it at checkout, they'll steal it, or drink it in the store. In the state of Washington (where laws were changed last year), those have been two unexpected challenges."